Avoid The Headaches: Why You Need An Attorney When Buying A Home Directly From The Owner

When it comes to buying a home, you never know which one you're going to fall in love with. Most real estate transactions go off without a hitch, especially when they're being handled by licensed real estate agents. Unfortunately, some real estate transactions go sideways. Often, these transactions involve "for sale by owner" homes. That doesn't mean that "for sale by owner" homes should be avoided. It just means that extra care needs to be taken during the transaction. If you've fallen in love with a home that's being sold without the use of a real estate agent, you need extra help to avoid complications. That's where a real estate attorney comes into the picture. A real estate attorney can help you to avoid the pitfalls that can come with this type of real estate transaction. Here are three of the ways an attorney can help when you're buying a home directly from the owner. 

Make Sense of Unclear Language

When homeowners sell their home without a real estate agent, they often do so without the necessary training or experience. While this process can save them some money on the sale of their home, it can also create some stressful situations. One of those situations involves language. Real estate transactions require the use of specific language and terms. Unfortunately, unclear language and vague real estate terms can create serious problems for you as the buyer. If the homeowners you're trying to negotiate with have used unclear language, a real estate attorney can help. They can identify the issues that are causing the lack of clarity and work to break through the language barrier. 

Identify Problems in the Purchase Agreement

If you're buying a home without the help of a real estate agent, you'll need help with the purchase agreement. The purchase agreement contains all the information you need to know about the terms of the arrangement. Some of the information you'll find in the agreement includes details about previous home improvement projects and escrow instructions. In most cases, the purchase agreement will also contain details regarding the handling of issues found during the inspection. If you're buying a home directly from the owner, an attorney can help you identify potential problems with the purchase agreement. 

Conduct a Detailed Title Search

Finally, if the home you're buying is being sold directly by the property owners, you might not get a detailed title search. Unfortunately, a lack of a detailed title search can come back to haunt you later. There could be other people with a legal interest in the home, which is why you need to hire a real estate attorney. They can conduct a detailed title search to ensure that the home you want to buy is free of title holds.

To learn more, contact a resource that offers real estate legal services.